10 Things You Didn’t Know About Day of the Dead

The end of October/start of November marks the Day of the Dead - a special holiday that celebrates the dead.

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In honour of this vibrant holiday, Wahaca are getting into the festival spirit with a week-long celebration! Their restaurant on College Lane will be transformed with traditional Mexican decorations and a tasty Day of the Dead Feasting Menu will be available from 30 October – 5 November.

Expect iconic dishes from Wahaca’s menu brought together and served feasting style, for the whole table to enjoy, as well as a margarita or beer to toast the memory of the departed. £1 from every Feast will go to charities helping those affected in the recent earthquakes.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Day of the Dead

Mexico’s biggest celebration, has its roots in Latin American pre-hispanic times, way before the Spanish conquered those lands.

In those times, there was no hell and no paradise, the route your soul would take, would be related of the kind of death you had.

The celebration lasted over two months until Pope Urbano IV moved the date to coincide with All Saints day.

The Mayas believed in 3 deaths, 1- When your spirit left your body, 2- When your body was returned to mother earth (buried) and 3- When everyone who remembered you passed away.

Mexicans put up a shrine “altar” at home and in public places to remember their loved ones each year, in the altar, the 4 elements: Earth, wind, fire & water are represented as well as food and drink and possessions that remind those people.

Day of the Dead is a celebration full of joy and happiness, bringing back the good memories from the people we lost.

The Mexican orange marigold, used in the celebrations, their colour and scent are believed to guide spirits to their respective altars.

In 2003, the UNESCO named Day of the Dead, World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Food is a very important part of Day of the Dead, typically tamales, mole and sweets made with pumpkin are common across Mexico.

Bakeries are stocked with Day of the Dead breads, an incredibly sweet and soft pastry decorated with bone-shaped fingers and best dipped into hot chocolate.